Travel Journal
A Brush with Nature: Why We’re Obsessed with Edward Bulmer Paint
Let’s talk colour. Not just any colour—the kind that breathes, lives, and lingers like the scent of something beautiful left behind. The kind of colour that feels like a conversation between your walls and the wild outside. Enter: Edward Bulmer Paint. We first fell for Edward Bulmer’s natural paints the same way we do with most things we love—through a slow, winding path of curiosity, beauty, and intention. What we found wasn’t just colour. It was craftsmanship, consciousness, and a palette rooted in the earth. Their paints are made entirely from natural ingredients—plant-based, mineral-rich, and completely free from the usual...
A Babymoon in Goa
Back in December, Sahana and I escaped to Goa for a little babymoon—one last adventure before little Amba’s arrival. Here are some of our favourite discoveries from the trip. If you’re after quieter, less crowded beaches, head south to Talpona Beach. We stayed at Zest Café, a peaceful spot with simple yet chic beach huts nestled under swaying Goan palms, just steps from the sea. The café serves up a vibrant vegetarian and vegan menu, with excellent smoothies to start your day—and, I’m told, great cocktails for the evenings (sadly, not for me this time!). Talpona is one of Goa’s...
What I Packed in My Hospital Bag: A New Mum’s Essential
Packing my hospital bag was one of those exciting yet slightly daunting tasks—I wanted to be prepared but also make sure I had a few little luxuries to make the experience more comfortable. With a focus on softness, practicality, and ease, here’s what I packed, including some of my favourite pieces from our collection. Softness First: Organic Cotton Muslins, Swaddles & Dohas Newborn skin is incredibly delicate, so I made sure to pack our organic cotton muslins—perfect for wiping, burping, and just about everything in between. I also brought along a couple of lightweight swaddles to keep baby snug and...
A Creative Morning at Khanoom Pottery Studio with SGSS Girls
One bright Saturday morning, just before leaving Jaipur to return to England, we had the wonderful opportunity to visit Khanoom Pottery Studio with 15 girls from the SGSS school. It was a memorable experience filled with creativity and inspiration. Simon and Priyam, the talented directors of Khanoom, had meticulously planned a fantastic session for the girls. The morning began with an engaging tour of the studio, where the girls were introduced to the intricate pottery-making process. From the raw clay to the final firing, they witnessed each step that transforms simple materials into beautiful pieces of art. The highlight...
Bridging the Gap: Ethical Standards and Artisan Craft in India
Last week, a British company specialising in sustainability audited my business and informed me that I hadn’t met their ‘environmental and social standards’ to be labeled as ‘sustainable.’ At first, this caught me off guard, but it also sparked important conversations that I want to share. For me, sustainability is multifaceted and goes beyond a single aspect. It involves considering the choice of fibre and fabric, production processes, water usage, emissions, waste, social and cultural context, and ethical practices. Today I wanted to look at ethical standards as this is one of the reasons I did not pass. I’ve been...
Empowering Afghan Refugee Women Through Craft: The Story of SilaiWali
SilaiWali is an organisation in New Delhi dedicated to transforming the lives of marginalised communities, especially Afghan refugee women. Founded in 2018, it provides these women with sustainable income opportunities by training them in traditional skills like stitching, embroidery, and crochet. This allows them to earn a dignified living while adapting their artisanal skills for international markets. A Safe Space and Community SilaiWali’s workspace is designed to be accessible and welcoming, situated close to the homes of the women it employs. The organisation works with Afghan women from the Hazara, Tajik, and Pashtun tribes who have fled their homeland, escaping...
The Better Future Collective
The Better Future Collective We are really pleased to share with you our latest project The Better Future Collective. One of the main pillars of Kapara is to create a positive social impact in the City where we work - Jaipur. Back in January I was approached by Ramesh, whom I work with on The Rucksack Project. He had set up a school in an impoverished area of Jaipur that encouraged girls in the local area to get an education. Many of the girls come from tough and sometimes abusive homes. Their education is not prioritised and in stead...
To Be a Wedding Guest
Introducing our exclusive wedding guest collection! Explore a carefully curated assortment of exquisite pieces tailored for every wedding setting, whether it be a chic city affair, a rustic countryside celebration, or a dreamy destination wedding abroad.
Our dresses are made to order, if you need it for a particular date please do not hesitate to get in touch, we will try to accommodate!
daisy@kaparalondon.com
'I ordered a pink Lolita dress as a bridesmaid's dress this Summer and I love it'
'Great quality, beautiful fabrics and I got compliments all day, thank you so much'
Kala Cotton - A Sustainable Alternative
This year we are super excited to introduce Kala Cotton into our collection, an exciting sustainable traceable fabric from India. Kala Cotton, scientifically known as Gossypium arboreum, has a rich history dating back centuries in the arid regions of Western India, particularly in the Kutch district of Gujarat. Unlike conventional cotton varieties, Kala Cotton is known for its resilience to drought and pests, making it well-suited for cultivation in low-input, rain-fed farming systems. Traditionally grown by smallholder farmers using organic methods, Kala Cotton embodies principles of biodiversity and sustainability. Environmental Benefits of Kala Cotton: Reduced Water Consumption: Kala Cotton...
Diwali Festival of Light
Diwali is celebrated across India and is known as the festival of light. The festival lasts for five days and marks the start of the Hindu New Year. The dates are dependant on the position of the moon and Diwali itself is on a new moon. People across India light hundreds and thousands of candles and use lights to decorate their homes. Diwali celebrates good over evil notably in the legend of Rama when he returns home after 14 years of exile. It is said that Ayodhya's citizens welcomed their prince home with thousands of glowing oil lamps on a...
Kapara Pop Up Starts Next Week!
We are super excited to be popping up for the first time since before Covid in the beautiful town of Burnham Market (North Norfolk) next week. We will be joining forces with Bombay Sprout, a lifestyle boutique with a curation of fashion, home & gifts. Their brands include Pink City Prints, M.A.B.E, Bombay Sprout and many more! We will be selling our new 'Little Ones Collection', so please do come say hi! Burnham Market is actually where we had our first Kapara pop up in 2017. We shared the little attic shop above Gurney's fish shop (which is now Humble Pie)...
10 Minutes with LA Stylist Laura Sophie Cox
This week we teleport to LA to chat with celebrity and editorial stylist Laura Cox @laura_sophie_cox Photo Credit: Brandon Kaipo Moningka @kaipo81 Would you tell us a little bit about what you do? I am a British Celebrity and Editorial stylist, based in Los Angeles. My clients include Emma Watson, Olivia Rodrigo, Natalia Reyes, Jacqueline Toboni and Paola Núñez. We have collaborated on everything from world press tours to award season events to advertising campaigns. I have worked with sustainable brands and platforms including @byrotationofficial, @senreve, and @triarchy and regularly contribute for @whowhatwear, @nytimes and @wwd, as a sustainability advocate....
Part 2 with Katherine Preston
Today we talk textiles, sustainability and Katherines design studio Waysgoose. www.waysgoose.uk Firstly I am interested to know how you would define the word 'sustainable' I’m glad you have asked what the word sustainable means to me as I feel it is now commonly used and has multiple contexts. For me, in my work, sustainability means to ensure my methods of creation are both socially and environmentally safe. Who made it and where? What impact is it having to all parties, throughout the supply chain? Working with artisan textiles, on a smaller scale, it is easier to come closer to fulfilling these goals but...
10 Minutes with Katherine Preston Part 1
I spent 10 minutes with textile designer Katherine Preston talking about her career, life in Yangon, Burmese textiles and new Textile Design Studio - Wayzgoose. Can you tell us a little about your textiles career in England I studied Surface Pattern Design at Leeds College of Art. The focus of my final year was on creating sustainable prints for fashion, designing ‘eco-prints’ using a process now commonly referred to as ‘Bundle Dying’. After leaving Leeds College of Art, I took a job under Tom Helme (former Decorative Adviser to the National Trust and co-founder of Farrow & Ball). Together with Tom...
Our Netflix Fix
Lockdown 2 has really allowed us to get on top of all things Netflix. Hunkering down in the evenings with a glass of red wine and yet another series has seen us through the last few weeks. So heres what we have been watching. Documentaries Kiss The Ground For anyone who wants to get to grips with understanding climate change and what needs to be done to balance our climate, replenish water supplies and feed the world this is the documentary for you. The documentary narrated by Woody Harrelson is accessible and encouraging and definitely leaves you with food for thought. Chasing Coral The...
10 Minutes with Xanthe Gladstone on Food and Sustainability
Photo Credit: Department Two This week I was lucky enough to spend some time with Xanthe Gladstone. Xanthe is a chef and food sustainability advocate. She is partially self taught but has attended the world renowned Ballymaloe Cookery School, to take their six week sustainable food course. Xanthe’s mission is to educate people of the positive effects that the right food choices can have on ourselves and our environment. Would you tell us a little bit about what you do? I’m a chef, organic grower and baker based in North Wales. I work part-time as the Director of Food &...
10 Minutes with Cressida Bonas
I spent 10 minutes with actor and friend Cressida Bonas discussing her wonderful podcast 'Fear Itself', lockdown and sustainability, I started listening to your podcasts at the beginning of lockdown what first gave you the idea to do a podcast on fear? It came from looking at my own fear throughout my life. That fear of theunknown, of not being good enough and the fear of loss. The fearfulthoughts that can be so limiting and the inner critic that was taking uptoo much space in my life. When having these destructive thoughts, theanxiety can be quite overwhelming. On the flip...
The Good Vibes Scrunchies
Some happy news during these fairly miserable times! Last week we made a rather special delivery to the boys at the Taabar Street Children Shelter. 50 rucksacks and 35 uniforms! The Shelter in Jaipur The shelter rescues boys that are either lost, runaway or more typically ones in forced labour. They are forced to work horrendous hours on no pay, no education and with little food. Abused by the factory owners the boys often arrive at the shelter traumatised and alone. Taabar gives the boys a roof over their head, education and rehabilitation. It is a safe haven for boys to recover whilst...
10 Minutes with Estelle Bingham
Introducing Estelle, who is my healer and friend! I have been lucky enough to have known her for over 5 years and she has helped me grow both spiritually and emotionally. How would you describe what you do? My work is about helping people grow a deeper relationship with themselves, so they can ultimately become the master and healer of their own lives. It is a journey towards an acceptance of how perfectly imperfect we are. It is about self-compassion, kindness, daily self-awareness and self-empowerment. It is a journey back to the essence of who we are. As we...